Is Supergirl in Man of Steel?

Share.

The Man of Steel prequel comic drops movie hints.

By Jesse Schedeen

Thanks to a Walmart promotion, Superman fans had their chance this past Saturday to pick up tickets to an early screening of Man of Steel. But a ticket wasn't all their money bought. Each purchase also included a download code for a digital comic called Man of Steel Prequel #1. The comic features a story by screenwriter David Goyer, director Zack Snyder, and DC's Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns, with the actual script penned by Sterling Gates and illustrated by Jerry Ordway.

Unsurprisingly, Man of Steel Prequel #1 offers a story set before the events of the movie. What is surprising is the fact that Superman himself barely appears at all. Instead, the comic focuses squarely on Kara Zor-El, the Kryptonian who will eventually become Supergirl. Spoilers for the comic and potentially the movie follow, so consider yourself warned.

The comic is essentially the origin story of Supergirl in this new movie continuity. The story sees Kara and several fellow students undertaking a harsh test of survival on Krypton. She passes the test, but not before her lover Kell-Ur is killed by fellow student Dev-Em. Kara's reward is the opportunity to join a team of astronauts that will seek out and colonize a new world in the name of Krypton. However, Dev-Em escapes custody and manages to sabotage the ship. The end result of her final clash with her nemesis is that Kara is sealed in a cryogenic pod and crash-lands on Earth thousands of years before the arrival of Superman.

This comic offers a number of interesting clues about the plot of man of Steel and what Goyer, Snyder, and Warners may have planned for future sequels. The most obvious revelation is that Supergirl is already on Earth, safely preserved in her pod. The comic also reveals that she lands in Ellesmere Island, Canada, and that her pod's distress signal may be what attracts Clark on his journey north that we've seen in the various trailers.

Between those revelations and the simple fact that this story is already setting the stage for Supergirl so soon, the comic strongly suggests that she'll have some sort of role in Man of Steel. Will Clark encounter her frozen body during his travels? Will she actually be rejuvenated? Maybe even help Superman battle General Zod? This wouldn't be the first time Supergirl appeared in a live-action movie, but it would be the first time she appeared alongside her cousin.

Exit Theatre Mode

The comic also includes several other interesting tidbits of information. While one panel shows the familiar destruction of Krypton and the escape of baby Kal-El's space pod, it also reveals that Kara is one of many thousands of Kryptonians to embark on this mission of colonization. Superman might not be able to call himself "The Last Son of Krypton" in this universe. The comic also references the Thanagarian empire (winged aliens a la Hawkman and Hawkgirl), teasing the existence of a wider DC Universe in this new movie.

We assume DC will eventually make this comic available in one form or another to fans who didn't purchase these advance tickets. And we'll know just what role, if any, Supergirl plays in Man of Steel when it opens on June 14. For now, let us know what you think about a possible Superman/Supergirl team-up by posting in the comments section below.